Change Default Application for File Type on Mac: A Step-by-Step Guide

Changing the default application for a file type on a Mac can greatly enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow. Whether you're a developer, designer, or simply a Mac user, being able to open files with your preferred application can save you time and reduce frustration. In this article, we'll walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to change the default application for a file type on your Mac.

By default, macOS assigns a default application to open specific file types. However, you may find that you prefer to use a different application to open certain files. For instance, you might want to open all .txt files with Sublime Text instead of the built-in TextEdit application. Fortunately, changing the default application for a file type on a Mac is a relatively straightforward process.

Method 1: Using the "Open With" Option

One of the easiest ways to change the default application for a file type is by using the "Open With" option. Here's how:

1. Find a file of the type you want to change the default application for (e.g., a .pdf file).
2. Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the file and select "Get Info" from the context menu.
3. In the Info window, click on the "Open with" dropdown menu.
4. Select the application you want to use as the default from the list of available applications.
5. If the application you want to use is not listed, click on "Other..." and navigate to the application.
6. Check the box that says "Always open with" to set the selected application as the default.
7. Click "Add" and then "Change All..." to apply the changes to all files of the same type.

Changing Default Application for Multiple File Types

If you want to change the default application for multiple file types at once, you can use the "Default Apps" preference pane in System Preferences. Here's how:

1. Go to System Preferences > General > Default Apps (in macOS Monterey and later) or System Preferences > Default Apps (in earlier versions of macOS).
2. Click on the "Default Apps" tab.
3. Scroll down to the "File Types" section.
4. Find the file type you want to change the default application for and click on the dropdown menu.
5. Select the application you want to use as the default.

Method 2: Using the "defaults" Command in Terminal

Another way to change the default application for a file type is by using the "defaults" command in Terminal. Here's how:

1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
2. Type the following command: `defaults write com.apple.LaunchAgents CFBundleDocumentTypes -array-add 'CFBundleTypeExtensionsfile_extensionCFBundleTypeRoleEditorCFBundleTypeNameApplication Name'
3. Replace "file_extension" with the actual file extension (e.g., .txt) and "Application Name" with the name of the application you want to use as the default.
4. Restart your Mac or run the command `killall Dock` to apply the changes.

Reverting to the Original Default Application

If you want to revert to the original default application for a file type, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to System Preferences > General > Default Apps (in macOS Monterey and later) or System Preferences > Default Apps (in earlier versions of macOS).
2. Click on the "Default Apps" tab.
3. Scroll down to the "File Types" section.
4. Find the file type you want to revert and click on the dropdown menu.
5. Select the original default application.